Rachel Carson

Since her death in 1964, Rachel Carson has become environmentalism's patron saint. Although her books are no longer at the cutting edge of science and conservation, her life has become the ethical and practical model for environmentalists. Every environmental writer dreams of producing a book like "Silent Spring," and every activist dreams of changing societal attitudes toward nature as Carson did. Yet surprisingly little has been written about Carson since her death.

The View from Lazy Point A Natural Year in an Unnatural World Carl Safina Henry Holt: 416 pp., $30 "The View from Lazy Point" is a naturalist's notebook, a record of a year at Carl Safina's home on the Sound side of eastern Long Island, north of Amagansett and south of Montauk. Safina, a marine ecologist and environmental activist, has often been compared with Rachel Carson ? an "ecologist with the soul of a poet," wrote Richard Ellis in these pages. He has written five books and won many awards for his work and his writing, including Pew, MacArthur and Guggenheim fellowships.

Al Gore has had some tough breaks — like losing the presidency after getting more votes than the other guy — but the noted environmentalist achieved a singular honor last week, becoming the first vice president to have a Los Angeles school named after him. And, fittingly, the school will be devoted to environmental themes. But as in the 2000 election, there's a catch. Critics say the campus' location poses a long-term health risk to students and staff. School district officials insist that the Arlington Heights property is clean and safe.

Al Gore has had some tough breaks — like losing the presidency after getting more votes than the other guy — but the noted environmentalist achieved a singular honor last week, becoming the first vice president to have a Los Angeles school named after him. And, fittingly, the school will be devoted to environmental themes. But as in the 2000 election, there's a catch. Critics say the campus' location poses a long-term health risk to students and staff. School district officials insist that the Arlington Heights property is clean and safe.

Rachel Carson was already an icon before she died in April 1964 at age 56. The best-selling author of three books on the natural history of the sea, hers was a trusted voice. Calm and imperturbable in the face of spurious attack by the chemical industry, she never wavered from her conclusions of corporate misuse, regulatory negligence and public betrayal.

WHO is the next Rachel Carson? It's a question you hear a lot in environmental circles. Where is the writer who can bridge the gap between poetry and science? Where is the book whose message is so accessible, so imperative, that it inspires not only activism but legislation? Her fourth book, "Silent Spring," on the effects of DDT exposure on plants, animals and humans, was published in 1962.

Seeing a statue of Rachel Carson, the crusading American environmentalist, at the World Expo in Shanghai moved me almost to tears. After all, Carson is a symbol of independent thought and action, both vital U.S. exports. Too bad the statue wasn't at the U.S. pavilion. But that building, sponsored in part by Carson's nemesis, Dow Chemical, was never going to be a celebration of the power of individuals. Indeed, the pavilion, with its bland tribute to "community," says little about what makes America, and Americans, special.

The View from Lazy Point A Natural Year in an Unnatural World Carl Safina Henry Holt: 416 pp., $30 "The View from Lazy Point" is a naturalist's notebook, a record of a year at Carl Safina's home on the Sound side of eastern Long Island, north of Amagansett and south of Montauk. Safina, a marine ecologist and environmental activist, has often been compared with Rachel Carson ? an "ecologist with the soul of a poet," wrote Richard Ellis in these pages. He has written five books and won many awards for his work and his writing, including Pew, MacArthur and Guggenheim fellowships.

At first, Ellen Warmbrunn thought the strong chemical odors permeating her Claremont home would disappear, certainly within hours after an exterminator treated her garage for termites. But chlordane, a pesticide that has been used on 30 million American homes since 1947, was just beginning to affect the California mother and her two teen-age daughters. Within days, Warmbrunn began suffering from extreme fatigue, headaches, nausea and other flu-like symptoms.

Irvine resident Suzanne Baker, a junior at Cal State Fullerton, was named the first recipient of the Rachel Carson Scholarship Award in Conservation Biology. Carson, the author of "Silent Spring," was one of the first to bring attention to the effects on the environment of the use of DDT, a toxic pesticide. Baker, a naturalist who cares for animals at the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary in Modjeska Canyon, also acquaints the public with the canyon's wild habitats. Gail I.

Seeing a statue of Rachel Carson, the crusading American environmentalist, at the World Expo in Shanghai moved me almost to tears. After all, Carson is a symbol of independent thought and action, both vital U.S. exports. Too bad the statue wasn't at the U.S. pavilion. But that building, sponsored in part by Carson's nemesis, Dow Chemical, was never going to be a celebration of the power of individuals. Indeed, the pavilion, with its bland tribute to "community," says little about what makes America, and Americans, special.

WHO is the next Rachel Carson? It's a question you hear a lot in environmental circles. Where is the writer who can bridge the gap between poetry and science? Where is the book whose message is so accessible, so imperative, that it inspires not only activism but legislation? Her fourth book, "Silent Spring," on the effects of DDT exposure on plants, animals and humans, was published in 1962.

Since her death in 1964, Rachel Carson has become environmentalism's patron saint. Although her books are no longer at the cutting edge of science and conservation, her life has become the ethical and practical model for environmentalists. Every environmental writer dreams of producing a book like "Silent Spring," and every activist dreams of changing societal attitudes toward nature as Carson did. Yet surprisingly little has been written about Carson since her death.

Rachel Carson was already an icon before she died in April 1964 at age 56. The best-selling author of three books on the natural history of the sea, hers was a trusted voice. Calm and imperturbable in the face of spurious attack by the chemical industry, she never wavered from her conclusions of corporate misuse, regulatory negligence and public betrayal.

Irvine resident Suzanne Baker, a junior at Cal State Fullerton, was named the first recipient of the Rachel Carson Scholarship Award in Conservation Biology. Carson, the author of "Silent Spring," was one of the first to bring attention to the effects on the environment of the use of DDT, a toxic pesticide. Baker, a naturalist who cares for animals at the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary in Modjeska Canyon, also acquaints the public with the canyon's wild habitats. Gail I.

At first, Ellen Warmbrunn thought the strong chemical odors permeating her Claremont home would disappear, certainly within hours after an exterminator treated her garage for termites. But chlordane, a pesticide that has been used on 30 million American homes since 1947, was just beginning to affect the California mother and her two teen-age daughters. Within days, Warmbrunn began suffering from extreme fatigue, headaches, nausea and other flu-like symptoms.

The little kids understand. My 6-year-old son, Emmett, reads Dr. Seuss' "The Lorax" at least once a week and can explain the message of the book succinctly. "It's about ruining God's creations, that money's not more important than nature." Published in 1971, at a time when Earth Day and the ecology movement were gaining counterculture traction, "The Lorax" addressed then-unconventional issues such as deforestation, pollution and greed. It was "An Inconvenient Truth" for children.

No need to worry about the "Silent Spring" which Rachel Carson wrote about so movingly. Even if the birds and bees have been poisoned by the pesticide purveyors, we still have the soothing drone from the helicopters. S. SCOVILLE Culver City